"The War" & Joe Medicine Crow

[crzhrs]

During the recent PBS series The War there was a segment on Joe Medicine Crow. They interviewed him and showed photos of him as a young man, his grandfather White Man Runs Him and Joe's link to the LBH.

They then went on to describe Joe's "quest" during WWII to become a warrior and according to him he succeeded. He told a poignant story about hand-to-hand combat he had with a German soldier. Joe was strangling him and as the German was about to die he said "Mama, Mama" Joe said when he heard that he stopped choking him and let him go.

Joe went on to sing his "war song" from his military years. When he got back home his people bestowed on him warrior status and war chief because he had accomplished a coup on a live enemy and other great deeds. Joe then closed the interview by saying he was the last Great Plains War chief.

This guy is 94 and still growing strong and a direct link to the LBH!

[harpskiddie]

Yeah. I saw that segment the other day. I thought the whole project fell flat for me, probably because that war was fought during my childhood, and there was nothing much new in it, except the personal hinges upon which Burns swung the narrative. I relished his Civil War, Baseball and Jazz.

The thought that mostly occupied my mind when I saw Joe Medicine Crow, except for the horses story and the coup/weapon taking that Joe related, was "does this guy have another outfit - every time I see him, he's wearing the same clothing?"

I'm not belittling his service to his country, or him either. It's always a pleasure to see old Joe, especially when he is expounding on the Little Horn. He actually reminds me of my last apartment-mate, who was [when I moved out] 94 years old. He was Chinese, sharp as a tack in many things, and the facial resemblance with Joe Medicine Crow is startling. He may still be alive, for all I know - Mr. George Lee, that is.

Gordie,
my boss at Dairy Queen said he had a beef with my grill work and that I could only work on sundaes, so I quit, telling him I needed at least four days a week....................................

[Tricia]

You know, I haven't been that happy with The War as well ... I don't know how to exactly word my problem with it, but to me, it seemed less Ken Burns-y and more Typical Documentary You'd See On The History Channel. In say, The Civil War, or Baseball, Mr. Burns could tell us the story so wonderfully through the eyes of its participants, but in this series, I felt there was too much narrative ... on the whole, the thing just fell flat.

The show might have featured Joe Medicine Crow, but it really needed a shot of Shelby Foote! And as for Joe's coups on the European battlefields, one thing I've learned is that modern Native American soldiers tend/tended to reflect their cultural societies as a whole. My favourite example is that I started talking to another Indian at the bookstore ten years ago and whilst I was helping her in the History section, she picked up a volume called Vietnam Sniper. She smiled and said, "you know us Apaches were the best snipers in 'Nam!"

I just couldn't argue with that.
--t.

[Scout]

I think it has been great. The personal stories are what I'm interested in the most. Burns has done a fabulous story so far. I think the one he did on the WEST was the worst one he has done so far... His brother did a better job on the THE WAY WEST. All and all, I think THE WAR has been excellent. My father was part of the tank corp which chased Rommel all over North Africa so I was glad to see that part.

Anyone see the PBS show MOST HONORABLE SON on several weeks ago? I don't know who did it but it was top notch.

[crzhrs]

The first couple of episodes were a little slow . . . but once the series started getting deeper into the battles and the conditions of those involved--soldier/civilian--it came alive.

Some of the numbers of dead during the battles are astoudning--thousands dead in a day.

Then the civilians who in the end suffered far more with fatalities and casualties numbering upwards of 60 million!

I've seen most of the footage but there is some new ones that are quite graphic.

And still 60+ years later we are still in the midst of the horror of warfare!

[harpskiddie]

What was it the man asked: "Where have all the flowers gone?.......When will they ever learn? When will they EVER learn?"

Gordie.
I missed the mark as a sniper...............................................

[clw]

I've enjoyed it. The statistics on war production are just astonishing. The things this country can do once we decide to DO it!

Loved that prayer one guy related.....

God help us.
You come yourself.
Don't send Jesus.
This is no place for children.

Burns added that Hispanic and Native American stuff because he was taken to task by [somebody?] for leaving them out. Old Joe is always readily available. He just loves that camera, eh?

[markland]

clw said:

I've enjoyed it. The statistics on war production are just astonishing. The things this country can do once we decide to DO it!

<snip>

A good book on the war production aspect is entitled There's A War To Be Won by Geoffrey Perret. It is a must for those interested in American participation in WWII and it's industrial contributions. As dry as the subject sounds, it is an immensely readable book.

Billy

[Scout]

Billy...I agree with you on Geoffrey Perret...he wrote a great and very readable book on U.S. Grant. I recommended it highly.

[Melani]

I only saw a little of the series, because my life has been too crazy to allow for TV viewing--in fact, I just checked my email for the first time in four days! I did hear an interview with one of the Hispanic partcipants, in which he said that Ken Burns was not consciously racist, it just hadn't occurred to him to include Hispanics until they hit him over the head with it, and then he was perfectly willing.

As for Joe Medicine Crow's clothes, he may simply have an outfit that he likes a lot, and always wears it for interviews.

[harpskiddie]

clw:

I also loved that "Don't send Jesus" prayer. If I had any money, I'd start a line of T shirts featuring it.

Gordie,
I am not who you think I am [reverse] and neither are you............................................